The argumentative text

Studying argumentative writing consists in identifying the logical organization of the argument and analyzing the situation in which the version is stated.

1. The logical organization

It is a question of wondering about the defendedthesis and the rejected thesis, on the arguments used to support the defended thesis or the counter-arguments invoked to refute the hypothesis, and finally on the examples which illustrate the case.

a. The thesis

The argumentative essayis not always formulated in the text and can be implicit: it is then a question of expressing it clearly. Similarly, the rejected hypothesis is not still explicit, especially in a non-controversial text.

b. Arguments

The number of cases varies from version to book; sometimes, even only one is developed. They can be presented in different forms: accumulation, logical sequence, the argument of authority (we call upon the opinion of a specialist or a renowned person to assert something). Sometimes the valid link is not clearly expressed; it is then necessary to restore it to assess the progress of the reasoning. Most of the time, the models have an illustrative function and thus make the argument more concrete. Sometimes the evidence is not expressed and must be deduced from the model. We say, in this case, that the model acquires an argumentative function.

c. The argumentative strategy

The author can present his thesis upon introduction, or choose to state it after a long argument.

He can accumulate arguments without expanding them to produce a number effect or, on the contrary, develop one or two at length.

The author can, therefore, content himself with supporting his thesis, refuting that of the adversary or granting him aspects that he considers positive.

2. The situation of enunciation

To wonder about the utterance situation is to ask the following questions: who is speaking? Whose? In what way?

a. The enunciator

It is a matter of observing how the speaker designates himself in his text: does he use the pronoun "I", "we", or the indefinite "on"? Then you have to ask yourself why he uses the personal or impersonal form. Thus we can determine the degree of involvement of the speaker in his statement, see if he only gives an individual or universal point of view if he seeks to associate his recipient.

b. The receiver

You have to determine who the speaker is for: is it someone in particular or a broad audience?

It should then observe how the author is for him and how he refers to, explicitly or not: by questioning, by personal pronouns two e person. He can also be taken to the task using oratorical questions, which are, in fact, false questions.

c. The attitude adopted by the author

Questioning the use of pronouns, the modalities of discourse, the lexicon and the rhetorical procedures makes it possible to define the approach taken by the author. Thus, the terms used can be ameliorative or derogatory, affective or aggressive, which manifests the feeling and the position of the speaker. A neutral or didactic tone testifies to his objectivity and his will to explain or to inform; a polemical, ironic, satirical or oratorical tone further marks his subjectivity.

d. The essential

Studying an argumentative text means identifying the enunciating instances of the book, identifying the defended thesis or the rejected thesis, analyzing the argument by identifying the cases and examples and their logical sequence.

The enunciation of the argumentative text

The argumentative text is a discourse: this means that it stages an obvious communication situation in which an emitter expresses an opinion and solicits his receiver to convince or persuade him (see the characters of the argumentative text in our table types of books). However, this solicitation may turn out to be less clear than it seems, as it can manifest itself in various ways. These are the nuances that mainly feed the questions that we can ask you.

I: the study of pronouns:

One of the most classic comprehension questions relates to the statement of pronouns, which can, to different degrees, reveal the presence of the transmitter and that of the receiver. It is rare for a question to be asked when examining the value of all pronouns. But get into the habit of taking an interest in it, as it is true that the questions "who speaks? To whom?" are essential before an argumentative text? None of the comprehension questions should be treated as a simple statement. You will have to avoid above all the linear scanning of the indices and operate a methodical classification which will have to be written carefully (notable!). Make it a habit to take stock of your study of the communication situation. Sometimes the questions invite it. Here we would probably conclude with a brilliant strategy in which the author remains far below, by the pronouns, his real involvement.

II: the degree of involvement of the issuer:

Essential perspective to which the questions, on examination, can invite in different forms, sometimes very simple. You must have in mind the lexical, grammatical, stylistic categories by which the author of a text can be manifested there.

You can start by wondering about the language functions implemented by the text. This notion is simple and convenient, also very rich in overtures.

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